More

Unions: Talks Continue Despite Layoff Notices

American Federation of Teachers Union Second Vice President Leo Canty outside the state Capitol. Photo by WTIC's Matt Dwyer.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) _ State employee union leaders say they still plan to keep talking with Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s negotiators even though the first of 4,742 layoff notices are being issued.

The State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition, which represents 15 unions in the closed-door talks, said discussions with the Democratic administration were expected to resume Tuesday afternoon.

Malloy had delayed issuing the notices last Friday to give both sides more time to talk. But his senior adviser said the governor decided to begin the weeks-long process of issuing layoffs on Tuesday because not enough progress had been made to warrant further delay.

The layoffs are effective July 1. They’d be rescinded if a deal is reached and ratified by rank-and-file members.

Malloy’s office could not say how many people were notified on Tuesday.